Tampa's Independent Bar opening Clearwater pub

The Independent Bar and Cafe, a popular hangout in Tampa's Seminole Heights, will open a second location in Clearwater on Friday. Located in the former Brew Garden at 904 N McMullen Booth Road, the Clearwater Independent will have 32 beers on draft, featuring a similar selection to that of the Tampa location — lots of continental European offerings — plus a small wine and bottled beer selection. There will be a large selection of canned beer in stock. The bar is laid out exactly like the Brew Garden, but there's space for live music on one end, and they're adding a long bench at the other. There's also lots of outdoor, cafe-style seating on the front patio. The Independent originally opened as a craft beer bar in downtown St. Petersburg before expanding to Seminole Heights. Following the divorce of co-owners John and Veronica Vellines, Veronica kept the Seminole Heights location, while John renamed the St. Pete bar Empouria. For more info, see independentclearwater.com.